The dative case is basically used to express the indirect object, i.e. the object that is indirectly affected by an action of the subject. It goes with verbs related to giving, either giving an object, or an information, etc.
For example:
<tr><td>I gave Nenad a book or I gave the book to Nenad =</td><td>Dao sam Nenadu knjigu.</td></tr>
<tr><td>I conveyed an information to Nenad =</td><td>Preneo sam Nenadu informaciju.</td></tr>